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A. W. FERRIN ENGINE STARTER Filed Dec. 22, 1922 A TTORNE Y Patented Nov. 25, 1924.

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ARTHUR W. FERRIN', OF KEYPORT, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOBI, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO NEW JERSEY MOTORS, INC, F KEYPORT, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORA- TION OF NEW JERSEY.

ENGINE STARTER.

Application filed. December 22, 1922. Serial No. 608,405.

I/ 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR W. F manna,

a citizen of the United States of America,

and a resident of Keyport, county of Mon- .5 mouth, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in Engine Starters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to manually operable starting mechanism for internal combustion engines.

Most of the manually operable starting mechanisms for internal combustion engines include pawls,ratchets and other parts that revolve continuously during the operation of the engine. This has been found to be objectionable since the parts are apt to become loose and rattle and also become worn and in most cases rust in position making them useless.

This inventionhas for its object to provide an engine starting mechanism so constructed and arranged that none of the operative parts thereof will continue in motion 2 after the engine has started.

Another object of the invention is to provide a starting mechanism that is simple and practical in construction and efficient in operation.

3 Further objects of the invention will appear from the followingspecification taken in connection with the drawings, which form apart of this application, and in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view 35 of an engine starting mechanism constructed in accordance with the iuventioiu Fig. 2 is an elevation taken at right angles to Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on line 83 of Fig. 2.

The invention briefly describedfconsists of mechanism adapted for connection to an engine shaft comprising a starter shaft, a pair of sprocket wheels, one mounted on 5 the starter shaft and the other on a bearing on the engine shaft and means including levers between the sprocket wheels for operatively connecting the engine shaft sprocket wheel to the shaft when the starter shaft to and sprocket wheel thereon are moved bodily by the starting crank. Theoperative connection between the sprocket wheel on the engine shaft and the shaft is so constructed that after the engine has been start- 55 ed, the sprocket wheel will be automatically disconnected from the shaft and also means has been provided for returning the lever mechanism to its initial position upon the release of the starter shaft and. crank. Further details of the invention will appear from the following description.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a portion of the engine or crank shaft 10 and crank casing 11. A sprocket wheel 12 encircles the shaft 10 and is rotatably mounted on a bearing member 11 secured to the crank casing 11. The sprocket wheel has formed therein diametrically opposite depressions 13 having shoulders 14 for engagement by end portions 15 of a pin 16 secured. to the shaft 10. From the showing particularly in Fig. 3, it will be noted that the depressions 13 in the sprocket wheel have curved or cam surfaces 17 for the purpose of permitting the end portions 15 of the pin 16 to ride out of the depressions after the engine has been started and the portions 15 of the pin are curved as shown at 18 to facilitate this action.

The sprocket wheel 12 is connected by a chain 20 to a sprocket wheel 21 fixedly secured to the starter shaft 22. The shaft 22 is mounted in bearings 23 formed in opposite walls 24 and 25 of a casing 26 secured to the crank case 1.1. A crank handle 27 is mounted on one end of the shaft 22 and the shaft is mounted for longitudinal as well as rotational movement in the bearings 13.

The means for operatively connecting the sprocket wheel 12 to the shaft 10 comprises a pair of lovers 28 and 29 pivoted respective-- 1y on pivots 30 and 31 in casing 26.

The lever 28 has one end 32 engaging one face of the sprocket wheel 21 and the opposite end of this lever engages an extension 33 formed on the lever 29.

The opposite end of the'lever 29 is bifurcated as shown at 34 and this forked end portion is disposed in an annular groove 35 formed in the hub 36 of the sprocket wheel 12. A spring 37 encircles the pivot 31 of the lever 29 and engages the lever at one end and at its opposite end abuts against the wall 25 of thecasing 26. This spring normally retains the lever in the position shown in Fig. l and returns the lever to this position when the handle 27 and shaft 22 and sprocket wheel 21 are released by the operator.

The starting mechanism operates in the iio the engine. If desired, the pin and sprocket can be so relatively arranged as to start the engine by a clockwise rotation of the crank handle, When the engine has been started, the ends 15 of. the pin 16 Will automatically ride out ofthe depressions 13 in the sprocket wheel 12 and. release of the handle 2.7. by the operator will cause the spring to swing the lever 29 in a-cl'ockwise direction, thereby moving the sprocket wheel 12 away from the pin 16 andreturning: the parts to the position. shown; in. Fig. 1. It will. be understood that although the starting mechanism has been shown and described as mounted on the crank caseand connected to the motor shaft, it could be mounted on a reverse gear and connected tl'irough such mechanism to the shaft.

Although. one specific embodiment of the invention has been particularly shown and described, it will be understood that the invention is capable of modification and that. changes in the construction and. in the arrangement of' the various cooperating parts. may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as expressed in; the following claims.

- lVhat I claim is:

1. Engine starting mechanism comprising a starter shaft, an engine shaft, a bearing on the engine shaft, a sprocket wheel! on. the starter shaft and a sprocketwheeli rotatably mounted on the bearing surrounding the en gine shaft, a chain connecting said wheels and lever means between said sprocket wheels, operable upon movement of one of said wheel's to operatively engage the other wheeL with said engine shaft.

2. Engine starting mechanism comprising a starter shaft, an engine sliaft, a bearing on the engine shaft, a sprocket wheel. on the starter shaft and a sprocket wheel rotatably mounted on the bearing surrounding the engine shaft, a chain connecting said wheels and means, including a plurality of levers, between said sprocket wheels, operable upon movement of" one of said wheels. to operat-ively engage the other wheel with said engine shaft.

3. Engine starting mechanism comprising a longitudinally movable starter shaft, an engine shaft, a bearing on the engine shaft,

a sprocket wheel on the starter shaft and a sprocket wheel rotatably mounted on the bearing surrounding the engine shaft, :1 chain. connecting said. wheels and lever means between said sprocket wheels, op-

erable upon longitudinal movement of the starter shaft and the wheel carried thereby to operatively engage the other sprocket wheel with the engine shaft.

4. Engine starting mechanism comprising a longitudinally movable starter shaft, a sprocket wheel fixed thereto, an engine shaft, a bearing surrounding said engine shaft", :1 sprocket wheel loosely mounted on the hearing and adapted to operatively engage said engine shaft, a lever having one end n'iovabl'c by the sprocket wheel on. the starter shaft and means movable by said lever for operatively connecting the' engine shaft and the other sprocket wheel.

5. Engine starting mechanism comprising a longitudinally movable starter shaft, a sprocket wheel fixed thereto, an engine shaft, a bearing surrounding said engine shaft, a sprocket wheel loosely mounted on the bearing and adapted to operatively engage said engine shaft, a lever having one end movable by the sprocket wheel on the starter shaft and a lever movable by said lever for operatively connecting the engine shaft. and sprocket wheel surrounding the shaft.

('3. Engine starting mechanismcomprising a longitudinally movable starter shaft, a sprocket wheel fixed thereto, a casing, a second. shaft, asproeket wheel rotatably and slidably mounted on a fixed portion of the casing surrounding said shaft, and means set in operation by the longitudinal movement of the starter shaft and: wheel fixed thereto for operatively engaging said second sprocket wheel with said. shaft.

7.. Engine starting, mechanism comprising a longitudinally movable starter shaft, :1 sprocket wheel fixed thereto, av casing, a second shaft,-a sprocket wheel rotataljily and slidably mounted on a fixed portion of the casing surrounding said shaft, and means set in operation by the movement of said first sprocket wheel for operatively engaging said second sprocket wheel with said shaft.

8. Engine starting mechanism comprising a longitudinally movable starter shaft, :1 sprocket wheel fixed. thereto, asecond shaft, a casing surrounding the second shaft, a sprocket wheel rotatably and slidably mounted on a fixed: portion of said casing and adapted to operat'ively engage said second shaft, means for operatively connecting said sprocket wheels and means for maintaining all parts of the starting mechanism out of contact with moving parts of the engine when the mechanism is not in operation.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of December; 1922.

ARTHUR W. FERRTN. 

